A musical treat is in store for cricket fans at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad ahead of the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan World Cup match. Live performances will be provided by renowned Indian singer Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal, Shankar Mahadevan, Asha Bhosle, Sukhwinder Singh, Ranveer Singh, and Tamannaah Bhatia, among other music maestros.

Having won their first two matches, both India and Pakistan have set the stage for this historic clash, which has been dubbed “the encounter of the century” by the organisers. Fans were initially disappointed when the World Cup did not begin with an official opening ceremony, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is determined to make the marquee match-day a memorable one. There will be a vibrant influx of cricketing fervour and entertainment at Narendra Modi Stadium.

Among the star-studded performers, Arijit Singh is widely acclaimed for his soul-stirring melodies, which will enchant the audience with his enchanting voice. As Shankar Mahadevan, a musical legend in his own right, takes the stage, his spellbinding compositions will captivate the audience as well. The musical festivities do not stop there; Asha Bhosle, Shreya Ghoshal, Sukhwinder Singh, Ranveer Singh, and Tamannaah Bhatia will also take part, ensuring that fans receive an experience of a lifetime.

Grand welcome for Pakistan players

Earlier, Pakistani players were greeted with a grand welcome at their Ahmedabad hotel, with traditional scarfs, flower petals, and a cultural music and dance performance. The Narendra Modi Stadium in India will also host the India vs Pakistan match on Saturday, and Pakistan journalists have been granted visas to cover the match.

Boycott Pakistan looms before World Cup clash

As Indian cricket fans get ready for a spectacular encounter against longtime rivals Pakistan on October 14, excitement and bitterness coexist. In light of recent terrorist acts in India that are purportedly linked to Pakistan, there is a revived social media movement “#BoycottIndoPakMatch” asking for a boycott of the match.

Unrest broke out after pictures and videos of the Indian crowd welcoming the Pakistani cricket team became viral. Since hostilities are still ongoing and frequently result in the death of Indian security officers, many players questioned why they were treated so warmly and kindly across the border. On September 13, three Indian Army officers were killed in an encounter with terrorists in Anantnag district, further inflaming public sentiment.

At the pre-match performance at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, the BCCI announced that Bollywood stars including Shankar Mahadevan, Sukhwinder Singh, and Arijit Singh would perform. Fans were outraged by the news, especially since the inaugural ICC Cricket World Cup did not feature an opening ceremony.

The controversial statements have worsened the unstable situation even further. Cricket matches between India and Pakistan have only been played in ICC and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments since 2013. 2008’s Asia Cup was the occasion of India’s most recent trip to Pakistan.

It won’t be tolerated in any way what the BCCI and Jay Shah did in the honour of the Pakistani team. One user on X stated, “Our soldiers are heroically battling Pakistan-supported militants on the border. In comparison to our Soldiers, a cricket match is nothing. The one who is against you is always the enemy.” Another person remarked, “Pakistanis don’t deserve this kind of welcome.”

One of the significant questions posed by the social media outrage and boycott requests is “Can politics and sports really be separated? ”How can India balance their passion for cricket with the wounds that their continuous aggressiveness has left behind? The questions are challenging, but one thing is clear: the India-Pakistan encounter has larger stakes than ever and involves much more than just cricket.